Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (Dec 15th to 21st Dec 2024)

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of Dec 15th to 21st Dec 2024. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2024 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• Vijay Diwas 2024 is observed on the 16th of December 2024 for the remembrance of the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in ‘Operation: Vijay’ against the infiltrating Pakistani troops.
• International Migrants Day 2024 is observed on the 18th of December 2024.
• Minorities Rights Day 2024 is observed on the 18th of December 2024.
• Pensioners Day is observed annually on 17th December in India to honor the legacy of S. Nakara, a pioneering figure who fought for the rights and dignity of pensioners.
• International Human Solidarity Day is observed on the 20th of December 2024.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

• CARE Ratings revised India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for FY25 to 6.5% from the earlier estimate of 6.8%.
• In-Solutions Global (ISG) has received full authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a payment aggregator under the Payment and Settlement Systems framework.
• India’s infrastructure investment is expected to grow at a 15% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the next few years, with a focus on capex-driven sectors like roads, railways, and civil aviation.
• A Bill to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is set to be presented during the Budget session of Parliament.
• The gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio for scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) improved significantly, declining to 2.67% in June 2024, from 11.18% in March 2018.
• BOBCARD Limited., a subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, has launched the TIARA Credit Card, a women-centric card aimed at supporting, empowering, and celebrating women’s financial autonomy.
• ICICI Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched the website for the Association of Registered Research Analysts of India (ARRAI) on December 16, 2024.
• In FY 2023-24, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) had unclaimed maturity amounts totaling Rs 880.93 crore, with 372,282 policyholders not claiming their maturity benefits.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced guidelines over a year ago to regulate Payment Aggregator Cross-Border (PA-CB) entities.
• Financial services player Groww is the dominant player in the stockbroking space with 12.88 million active clients as of November 2024, maintaining its lead over competitors.
• Between 2014-15 and 2023-24, Indian commercial banks wrote off ₹12.3 lakh crore in loans.
• State Bank of India (SBI) invited counter bids to sell bad debt worth ₹52,074 crore to Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL) through a Swiss challenge auction.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed the creation of MITRA (Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and Retrieval Assistant).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted business restrictions on two entities of the Edelweiss Group, ECL Finance Limited and Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (Edelweiss ARC), with immediate effect.
• Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairperson of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), launched new initiatives in the presence of the CBIC Board Members, focusing on improving taxpayer services.
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has initiated an electronic campaign to assist taxpayers in resolving mismatches between income and transactions reported in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and those disclosed in Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for FY 2023-24 and FY 2021-22.
• InCred, a fintech unicorn, is planning its initial public offering (IPO) to raise INR 4,000 Cr (approx. $470 Mn) to INR 5,000 Cr (approx. $590 Mn) by late 2025.
• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance recorded a claim settlement ratio of 99.04% for the July-September quarter of FY2025.
• The Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have jointly made an important decision regarding the 5 rupee coin.
• Federal Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks, has joined hands with Ecofy, India’s first green-only non-banking financial company (NBFC) supported by Eversource Capital, to provide innovative financing solutions for MSMEs investing in commercial rooftop solar installations.
• Aditya Birla Housing Finance (ABHFL) has entered into a partnership with the National Housing Bank (NHB) to advance the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) vision of ‘Housing for All’.
• Reliance Nippon Life Insurance (RNLI), a subsidiary of debt-ridden Reliance Capital (RCAP), has initiated discussions with IndusInd Bank to establish a bancassurance partnership.
• Times Internet, in collaboration with ICICI Bank, has unveiled the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card, an ultra-premium offering tailored for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and affluent customers.
• India emerged as the largest recipient of remittances in 2024, with an estimated inflow of $129 billion, according to a blog post by World Bank economists.
• The Indian government is anticipated to set a fiscal deficit target of 4.4% of GDP for the financial year 2025-26, signaling a move towards fiscal discipline while maintaining economic growth.
• India Ratings and Research has projected a positive economic trajectory for India in FY26, with growth, investments, and fiscal consolidation as key highlights.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced tighter regulations for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) seeking to list through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in order to safeguard investor interests and ensure that only financially sound companies access the public capital markets.
• Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to defer the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosure deadline for value chain partners of listed companies by one year until FY26, giving more time to them to comply with the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) requirements.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated mutual funds to specify the amount they plan to raise in a New Fund Offer (NFO) based on their ability to deploy the raised funds within a specified timeframe.
• The Government of India (GoI) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $42 million loan for the Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project.
• Shriram Finance raised $1.27 billion through a multi-currency syndicated external commercial borrowing (ECB), marking it as the largest ECB loan secured by a domestic private non-banking finance company (NBFC).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) is set to launch an ambitious five-year plan (2025-2029) to modernize India’s statistical systems and leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the acquisition of 100 additional K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer guns from Larsen & Toubro (L&T), along with progress on Zorawar light tank trials.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the concluding session of the fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries, held in New Delhi.
• The Department of Consumer Affairs is set to launch a “future-ready” consumer grievance redressal platform featuring the e-Jagriti app and an updated portal.
• The India Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC 2024), held on December 11-12, organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), marked a significant milestone in recognizing India’s rich maritime history while focusing on its future as a global maritime leader.
• India has established its first diabetes biobank in Chennai, a collaborative effort between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF).
• The Indian government has introduced the Jalvahak incentive scheme, a pioneering initiative aimed at promoting long-haul cargo transportation via the country’s extensive national waterways network.
• India has made a significant leap in its commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the steel sector. Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Steel & Heavy Industries, unveiled the country’s first-ever Taxonomy of Green Steel at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), under the Ministry of Coal, has introduced the CHARAK project to provide free medical treatment to economically disadvantaged individuals in Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh) and Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh).
• On the occasion of the 75th year of India’s Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful speech in the Lok Sabha, outlining 11 pledges for a brighter future for the nation.
• Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, marking the launch of a premier center dedicated to exploring and celebrating Earth’s geological treasures.
• According to the FICCI EV Public Charging Infrastructure Roadmap 2030, India must invest Rs 16,000 crore in capital expenditure by 2030 to meet its public EV charging demand and achieve its 30–40% electrification mission.
• The Government of India, under the leadership of Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, has introduced a ₹1,000 crore Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) to support small and marginal farmers.
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, flagged off the ‘Fit India’ cycling movement at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.
• India has scrapped duty-free imports for solar power generation equipment under the Manufacturing and Other Operations in Warehouse Regulations (MOOWR).
• The 10th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC 2024) and the Arogya Expo were inaugurated in Dehradun, marking a pivotal event for Ayurveda and digital health.
• The IDFC First Private Banking and Hurun India list for 2024 celebrates India’s top 200 self-made entrepreneurs, showcasing their transformative contributions to the nation’s economy.
• The Indian tech industry is projected to reach a market size of $350 billion by 2030, growing from $254 billion in FY2023-24, according to Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar.
• The Indian government is drafting a comprehensive bill to tackle the proliferation of illegal lending apps and unregulated lending activities.
• The anticipated enactment of the Digital Competition Bill, aimed at regulating India’s digital economy, faces potential delays as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has initiated a fresh examination of the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) role in digital markets.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced that from June 2026, solar companies will need to exclusively use India-made solar photovoltaic (PV) cells to participate in government procurement programmes.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Switzerland has suspended the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India.
• The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that South Korea plans to invest 2.7 trillion won ($1.9 billion) in developing climate change technologies in 2025.
• India and Sri Lanka adopted a ‘futuristic vision’ to expand their partnership, focusing on investment-led growth and connectivity.
• By March 2025, Indian tourists may be able to enter Russia without requiring a visa.
• The 16th Conference of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Nepal and China governments launched the “Phewa Dialogue” series in a collaborative effort to formulate regional prosperity and peace policies.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled ambitious economic plans at the World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2024, positioning the state to become India’s first $1 trillion economy by 2028-2030.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled the foundation stone for a non-leather and athletic footwear manufacturing unit in Ranipet district on December 16, 2024.
• West Bengal (WB) Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee launched the “Banglar Bari” scheme to provide houses for the rural poor in the state.
• The inauguration of the country’s longest golf course in Dwarka by Lt Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena marks a significant development in sports infrastructure for the national capital.
• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the state from January 2025, making it the first state in India to do so post-Independence.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• The government investment of Rs 1.46 lakh crore has been realised, resulting in incremental production and sales of over Rs 12.50 lakh crore across 14 PLI sectors till August 2024.
• The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has set March 31, 2025, as the new deadline to complete the Bharat Vandana Park in Dwarka’s Sector 20.
• The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to discuss and decide on several important issues in its upcoming meeting in Jaisalmer.
• Infosys, one of India’s leading IT services companies, inaugurated a cutting-edge development centre in New Town, Kolkata, marking a significant milestone in the region’s transformation into an IT hub.
• Leading Indian broking firm Zerodha has introduced a margin trading facility (MTF), allowing users to borrow money to buy stocks for delivery.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has suspended trading in derivative contracts for seven agricultural commodities until January 31, 2025.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Francois Bayrou, a centrist ally, as Prime Minister on December 13, 2024, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government.
• Jehangir (Jeh) Wadia, the younger son of Nusli Wadia, has rejoined the boards of Wadia Group companies after a three-year hiatus.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Manish Jain’s appointment as Executive Director (Whole-time Director) of YES Bank for a period of three years, from December 11, 2024, to December 10, 2027.
• Preeti Lobana has been appointed as the new Country Manager and Vice President for Google India.
• Mukesh Ambani, the richest Asian, appointed Ira Bindra as the Group President of Human Resources at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Rama Mohan Rao Amara as the Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI) for a term of three years, effective from the date he assumes charge, or until further orders.
• The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has appointed Alok Aggarwal, the Managing Director (MD) and CEO of Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, as its new Chairman.
• Unsoo Kim has been reappointed as the Managing Director (MD) of Hyundai Motor India for a term of three years, starting from January 25, 2025.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council unanimously agreed to reappoint Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General for a second four-year term, starting from September 1, 2025.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a ₹5 crore cash reward for Chennai-based Grandmaster D Gukesh after his historic achievement of becoming the youngest World Chess Champion.
• Manipur recently observed Nupi Lal Numit 2024 to honour the courageous women who played pivotal roles in the Nupi Lal uprisings of 1904 and 1939.
• Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) honored 10 peacebuilders for their exceptional work with women in areas of prolonged conflict across South Asia.
• Vinícius Júnior, Brazilian and Real Madrid forward, has been crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player for the first time.
• PepsiCo India reinforced its commitment to women empowerment in agriculture by launching the RevolutioNari Conference and Awards 2024 in New Delhi.
• Arun Kapur, a renowned educationist with remarkable contributions to the education sector in India, Bhutan, and Oman, was honored by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
• The Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024 celebrated the remarkable contributions of 21 writers and poets across various Indian languages.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENTS

• The Hockey India League (HIL) has secured a landmark three-year media rights deal with Sony Sports Network (SSN), starting with the 2024-25 season, set to begin on December 28, 2024.
• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has signed an MoU with Wipro GE Healthcare to establish an AI Health Innovations Hub, marking a major step in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare advancements.
• In a major boost to India’s manufacturing capabilities, Dixon Technologies and Vivo India have announced a joint venture aimed at producing electronic devices, including smartphones, under the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
• In a historic initiative, the Goa government has decided to recognize the supreme sacrifices made by the martyrs of Goa’s Liberation struggle, becoming the first state in India to do so.
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has signed a key agreement with NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDS) to integrate its APIs with the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
• In a strategic move to improve global availability of its mpox vaccine, Bavarian Nordic (BN) has signed a manufacturing licensing agreement with the Serum Institute of India (SII).
• NHPC Limited and BEML Limited have entered into a strategic partnership to design and implement advanced desilting and dredging technologies.
• The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing financial literacy, investor education, and investor protection across India.
• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has partnered with the Transport Department, Government of Bihar, to establish five automated driving license test tracks in Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Purnia, and Saran.
• Bharti Airtel has collaborated with the Indian Army to improve connectivity in Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipore districts near the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir.
• Bajaj Auto Limited has partnered with Sastra Deemed University to launch the second phase of the Bajaj Engineering Skill Training (BEST) Centre initiative, aiming to strengthen India’s technical workforce.
• Footwear giant Bata India has entered the fast-growing quick commerce market by teaming up with Zepto, offering swift deliveries across Delhi NCR.
• The Ministry of Culture has announced a landmark partnership with France Museums Développement (FMD) to develop the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum as a world-class cultural institution.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

• ICICI Bank’s Board of Directors has approved the sale of a 19% stake in its associate company, ICICI Merchant Services Private Ltd (IMSPL), subject to necessary regulatory approvals.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposal by US-based investment firm KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.) to acquire a stake in Rebel Foods.
• Coca-Cola sold a 40% stake in its India bottling arm, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBL), to Jubilant Bhartia Group for ₹12,500 crore ($1.47 billion).
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of a certain stake in Speed JVco S.à r.l. (Target) by Ramon Investments Private. Limited. (Acquirer).
• Genesis Aircraft Lessor will acquire a stake worth $4 million in SpiceJet as part of a settlement for a $16 million dispute.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

• The United States (US) announced a new military aid package of US$500 million for Ukraine to support its defense against Russia’s ongoing attacks.
• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nirdeshak, a state-of-the-art survey vessel, will be commissioned on 18 December 2024 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
• The event titled ‘DRDO-Industry-Academia – Global Approach to Readiness of Indigenous Military Applications’ (DIA-GARIMA) was organized by DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi on December 19, 2024.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• Space Kidz, a Chennai-based space startup, is planning an all-women scientific lunar mission targeting September 2026.
• Tech giant Google announced a partnership with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to bring quality education to far corners of India.
• India is set to join a select group of countries with quantum satellite capabilities, aiming to create hack-proof communication networks.
• Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed space mission, aiming to send three astronauts about 400 km above the Earth’s surface for three days.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and BRIC-inStem Bangalore developed an ‘anti-pesticide’ suit named Kisan Kavach to protect farm laborers from harmful pesticide exposure during spraying activities.
• Meta launched a global campaign to help users stay safe from online scams across its platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Marketplace.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• Pakistan’s star all-rounder, Imad Wasim, announced his retirement from international cricket marking the end of a remarkable nine-year career.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the youngest bowler to take 100 wickets across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, cementing his place in cricketing history.
• The Indian women’s junior hockey team successfully defended their Women’s Junior Asia Cup title with a thrilling 3-2 penalty shoot-out win over China in the final held in Muscat, Oman.
• Mumbai won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 with a commanding five-wicket victory over Madhya Pradesh in the final at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
• India’s premier all-rounder, Ashwin, achieved a significant milestone during the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
• Indian wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh achieved a remarkable milestone, equaling the record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20I history during the series decider against the West Indies at the DY Patil Sports Academy.
• Red Bull has announced that Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez as the team’s second driver alongside four-time World Champion Max Verstappen in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

• Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro, passed away on December 15, 2024, at the age of 73 in San Francisco.

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